What are the settlement options under the partner and long residence routes for someone who had accrued five years leave on a partner visa under Appendix FM, but has since switched to visitor status, in circumstances where they are working abroad?

Visitor status/main home in the UK

Note that it is a requirement of the Visitor Rules that a person will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK their main home (Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, para V4.2(b)). The Visit caseworker guidance states: ‘There is no specified maximum period, which an individual can spend in the UK in any period, such as ‘6 months in 12 months’ (as long as each visit does not exceed the maximum period for that visit, normally 6 months). However, if it is clear from an applicant’s travel history that they are seeking to remain in the UK for extended periods or making the UK their home you should refuse their application’.

If a person using a visit visa/status to travel to the UK has the UK as their